Bathtub support



Oct. 11, 1,932. J.B. MARTENS 'BATHTUB SUPPORT Filed Dec. 18. 1951 m /i Marta/u Patented Oct. 11, 1932 UNITED STAT-ES PATENT OFFICE JOHN B. MARTENS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR' OE ONE-HALF T ANDREW MAIN, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO, AND ONE-HALF TO EVELYN G. BRADLEY, OI CUYAHOGA;

FALLS, OHIO BATHTUB SUPPORT Application filed December 18, 193-1. Serial- No. 581,938.

This invention relates to bathtub supports, its object being to provide a simple and improved construction by which a built in bathtub may be properly supported along itswall edge not only during installation but during later use, together with means for adjusting the parts to bring the tub to proper level, and by the use of which supports the bathtub is not likely to loosen in use as the result of wood shrinkage or for other reasons.

Further objects of the invention are in part obvious and in part will appear more in detail hereinafter.

In the drawing, which represents one embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a perspective view, partly broken out and in section, illustrating a bathtub installed according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional plan "view taken just above the top of the bathtub; Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation on the line 33, Fig. 2, on a larger scale; and Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation on the line 41, Fig. 3. In the installation of built in bathtubs it is necessary to provide proper support not only at the front along the bottom of the outside apron 1, but also along the inner edge where the tub is built into the wall. The tub'is installed before the tile floor and walls are 30 laid in place and the plumber has the duty of seeing that the bathtub is level and properly supported all the way around. The lower edge of the front apron is supported upon the joists 2 and at the inner edge of the tub the plumber provides a support for its flange 3, usually by nailing a strip of wood to the vertical joists 4, with the edge of the wooden piece lying horizontally at the proper level to support the tub flange. Usually, when the tub is laid in place, it is found that the horizontal wooden strip is either not at the proper level or is not truly horizontal.

and it is necessary to insert wooden shims between the tub edge and the wood support. This is satisfactory from the standpoint of levelling the tub, but when the tile floor and wall are laid in place and the parts lie for a year or two under normal conditions the wood shims shrink, warp, or rot and ultimately the tub support is lost and the tub shrinks away from the tile with an unsight: ly gap through which water leaks, leading to further destruction.

My invention aims to provide supporting means forthe tub which may be of very 'sim ple construction and made at low cost and capable of application in use in a very'sim' ple' manner. The support comprises a base or body portion. 10, shown as a rectangular flat plate provided at its front edge with a lateral offset, such as one or more laterallugs or ears: 11. Ont-he base plate, and shown as integral therewith, is a suitable pivot-pin 12, which maybe provided with a head, as at 13. This pivot pin serves as thev support or anchor for a lever 14, which'is a single piece of metal provided on its: advance end. with a hookshapedportion 15 designed to receive" the edge of the tub, and at its rear end extending beneath an adjustingscrew 16' threaded through a boss or car 17 on the base plate. The lever is preferably slotted at one side adjacent the pivot, so that it may. be readily laid in placeby simply dropping itinto'its position over-the pivot pin, as shown in Figs.

3- and 4, the head of the pin preventing itslateral escape. This arrangement enables the pivot pin to either be made integral wlth the base plate orpermanently attached therepin is at approximately the level of the lower edge of the tub flange. as shown in Fig. 3. Two of these supports are fastened tothe studs adjacent opposite ends of the tub. A

proper footing is then provided for the front apron 1 of the tub and the tub is laid in place as shown in Fig. 1. It is then brought to level, horizontal position by adjustment of one or the other or both of the, screws 16,

and when adjustment is fully accomplished the tile floor and wall are laid in place, as is usual.

With this arrangement the inner edge of the tub may be brought very close to the studs 4, because the lateral flanges 11 are relatively thin and the parts do not project materially beyond the front of the studs, only a sufficient distance to provide intervening space for plaster and tile. After the parts are completely housed in there is no liability of the tub moving out of its proper position as the result of wood shrinkage, because the inner edge of the tub, is supported directly on metal which is attached firmly to the ver tical studs and will not change its position, as is the case with the wooden shims above referred to. Adjustment of the parts is very readily accomplished without any liability of injuring the fingers, as when the .wooden shims must be pushed into position or adj usted. r I

If desired, the body plate 10 may be pro vided with means, such as a pin 18, adapted to prevent the rear arm 14 of the lever from dropping down too far by gravity before the edge of the tub is laid in place on its hook end 15, .as shown in Fig. 3.

Other advantages will readily occur to those skilled in the art. I

What I claim is:

1. Atub support of the character described, comprising a plate like body portion adapted for attachment to the side of a stud and provided With a lateral offset to engage its front surface, a pivot pin on said body portion, a lever mounted on said pivot pin and having a' forwardly extending arm adapted to GX- tend beneath and support the tub and rearwardly extending arm, and an adjusting screw carried by the body portion and engaging said rearwardly extending lever arm.

2. A tub support of the character described, comprising a plate like body portion adapted for attachment to the side of a stud and provided with a lateral offset to engage its front surface, a pivot pin on said body portion, a

nature.

JOHN B. MARTENS.

lever mounted on said pivot pin and having a forwardly extending arm adapted to extend beneath and support the tub and a rearwardly extending arm, and an adjusting screw carried by the body portion and engaging said rearwardly extending lever arm, said lever having an open recess at the pivot pin, whereby it may de detached therefrom.

3. A tub support of the character described, comprising a body portion adapted for attachment to a stud, a two armed lever pivoted on said body portion and having a forwardly extending tub supporting arm and a rearwardly extending arm, and means located above the rear arm of the lever for adjusting it downwardly to raise its tub supporting arm.

. 4. A tub support of the character described in claim 3, in-which the forwardly extending 

